There is a notable discrepancy between the UK government’s official line and insider accounts regarding discussions about a national ChatGPT deal. While a government spokesperson said they “don’t recognise these claims,” two sources with direct knowledge insist the £2 billion idea was floated in a high-level meeting.
The official statement from the government and its technology department seeks to portray the idea as non-existent or, at the very least, not a formal proposal. This is a common public relations strategy to manage politically sensitive information and avoid scrutiny over potentially controversial spending ideas.
However, accounts from sources close to the meeting between Technology Secretary Peter Kyle and OpenAI’s Sam Altman tell a different story. They describe a concrete, if exploratory, conversation where the concept of a nationwide subscription was raised, costed, and ultimately dismissed by the minister.
This gap between the public statement and the insider view highlights the often-opaque nature of government-business negotiations. It suggests that many radical ideas are discussed behind closed doors, with only the most viable and politically safe options ever seeing the light of day.